(CNN) - The two Texas Republican candidates for a U.S. Senate seat locked horns in a Friday night televised debate, but displayed few policy differences.

When asked directly if there "is anything your opponent has done that shows he lacks the integrity and character that these voters say they want," both Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz said that question would be decided by voters, who can choose between them in a July 31 runoff election for the GOP nomination.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

But before the moderators had even posed the next question, their fists were up again.

"I'll leave the judgment of character to the voters,” Cruz said to the integrity question, adding that the election was a choice between his record “and the lieutenant governor's record of serving in elected office for over a decade, repeatedly compromising with democrats, increasing spending, increasing taxes.”

"I find it amusing the lieutenant governor said he is not here to attack me, given he has spent over ten million dollars of his own money running false nasty attack ads," he continued.

Dewhurst fired back: “I’m not going to respond to the fact that you have your Washington insiders, and you have all these Washington special interests that have spent millions and millions of dollars saying untrue things about me. I’m not going to go there.”

But by saying that, the issue was raised.

As if the fireworks needed more fuel, the candidates were next invited to directly ask one another a question.

“You have been widely criticized for posing a statewide wage tax,” Cruz began. “Your response is to call your critics liars. So I have a very simple question: did you support a payroll tax, and is that a good idea?”

Dewhurst retorted, “No and no.”

“That’s very interesting,” Cruz returned.

Given his chance to pose a question of Cruz, Dewhurst listed his own military and intelligence service, then asked, “What about your background is, do you think, makes you more qualified to be the next U.S. Senator?”

Cruz commended Dewhurst’s service, and cited his own time “fighting for the constitution and winning on the national level” as a lawyer.

The race has been as expensive as the debate was nasty. Through early May, Dewhurst and allies spent more than $17 million to Cruz and his allies’ $4.3 million, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission records available.

Cruz and Dewhurst largely agreed on the role of the U.S. military, immigration policy, immigration, and reforming social security. Each also vowed to propose a repeal of the health care law signed by President Barack Obama on his first day in office.

The similarities were so noticeable that the moderators’ last question was “could you give us a brief example of how Senator Dewhurst would vote differently on an issue than Senator Cruz?”

That question brought out some of the few compliments the two exchanged.

Dewhurst said of Cruz, “I believe him to be a conservative,” then touted the business-oriented frame through which he views problems.

Cruz allowed Dewhurst “is a good and decent man,” but continued that his opponent has spent 15 years in elected office as a “conciliator.”

The two are expected to debate again in July before the runoff election at month’s end. Two democratic candidates, former state Rep. Paul Sadler and campaign strategist Sean Hubbard, will debate next month, the moderators said, although a Democrat has not represented Texas in the senate in over 20 years.

The race has attracted national interest and competing endorsements from within the Republican Party. Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as well as some tea party organizations, have endorsed Cruz. Gov. Rick Perry has sided with his lieutenant, and Dewhurst is also backed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

After Friday’s debate curtain fell, the jabs continued.

Cruz charged that Perry’s backing of Dewhurst isn’t genuine support, but an effort to boot him from the state capital.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cruz told reporters at a post debate press conference, "It is in his political interest to get rid of David Dewhurst and get him out of Austin and send him somewhere else."

soundoff(11 Responses)

Myviewis

It is so refreshing to see true politics in action pointing out each others good and bad, allowing the voter to decide, instead of the Democrat's way of follow blindly, question not, pretend everyone is perfect and do no wrong, presenting voters with misleading information, such as Obama was the son of a single mother when in reality his mom was married until 1964 and remarried in 1965 and his mother had a PH.D, was a doctor, worked for large banks and the kid went to elite private school for rich kids and grandma was the Vice President of The Bank of Hawaii. Yes, it is nice Republicans fight among each other and voters can decide based on facts who is the best candidate.

June 23, 2012 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Larry L

Here in Texas politicians compete for the title of most radical and narrow-minded. We support candidates proud to be anti–environmental regulations, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-science, anti-Medicare, anti-Social Security, and anti-any religion other than Christianity. As a really red state they use socially conservative issues like guns, god and gays to get votes from the undereducated, the Evangelicals, and the fearful bigots who are afraid of anything that isn't white and Protestant. Big oil funds the campaigns and corporations must contribute to Governor Perry's war chest to gain audience with the moron. All of our educational statistics are headed towards the bottom of the list. Look out Mississippi... here we come!

June 23, 2012 12:11 pm at 12:11 pm |

Thomas

Gun education starts in pre school !

Remember the Alamo !

June 23, 2012 12:16 pm at 12:16 pm |

judy

couple of boring repos . Nothing will change if either get elected. Vote all repos out Forward 2012

June 23, 2012 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

dreamer96

Texas like a whole other country, like Mexico...and time period...like the 1950's..or is it the 1850's

June 23, 2012 01:11 pm at 1:11 pm |

g

not much change since 1980–trickle down

June 23, 2012 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

Donkey Party

Anyone that doesn't understand what the meaning of 'compromise' is, doesn't need to be in elected office. Shameful how far right the right-wing has gone.

June 23, 2012 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

once upon a horse

I live in Texas and if you follow what has gone to Washington from this state from GW Bush to Louie Gommert with Tom DeLay in between the LAST thing we would need is another Republican from Texas there. Thank God Rick Perry's wheels fell off his truck in time.

June 23, 2012 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

fernace

This 1 is easy! Dewhurst is a moderate, doesn't think "compromise" is a 4 letter word & is an old school Republican! Cruz is Tea Party, hence all the T-vangelical support! Guess who will actually Work, rather than fillibuster, obstruct, sign pledges & say NoNoNo, like an overgrown toddler!?

June 23, 2012 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

georgewashington

Flip a coin, it doesn't matter which one wins.

June 23, 2012 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Marie MD

It's sort of like a fake beauty contest. I am sure those fools in Texas will vote for the prettiest one.